Unalaska, AK – This week, members of the state redistricting board visited Unalaska for input on the drawing of District 37.

Board chair John Torgerson led the meeting, and he explained that the board aims to have 17,500 people in each legislative district. He adds that low population numbers in rural Alaska in last year's census means districts that will cover a wider portion of the state.

"I use the word ugly' a lot - and I probably shouldn't - but they're just huge districts," says Torgerson. "It's hard to get compactness."

That means the rural representation in the legislature is expected to shrink, while places like Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley will have a greater influence in state government.

Like other rural districts, 37 would expand some. In both of the proposed redistricting plans, it would grow to include some villages west of Dillingham, like Platinum and Good News Bay. It would also incorporate villages near Lake Iliamna.

Still, under these two plans, Unalaska wouldn't lose its current legislators to redistricting, which many city officials see as a positive.

Last week's meeting was sparsely attended, but city council has discussed the issue and is expected to keep the conversation going at their next meeting.

On May 6, a statewide teleconference will be held to discuss the current state of the redistricting process. A final plan must be adopted by June 16. More information on redistricting can be found at akredistrcting.org.